WO2012067354A2 - Refrigerator with convertible chamber and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Refrigerator with convertible chamber and operation method thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012067354A2
WO2012067354A2 PCT/KR2011/007940 KR2011007940W WO2012067354A2 WO 2012067354 A2 WO2012067354 A2 WO 2012067354A2 KR 2011007940 W KR2011007940 W KR 2011007940W WO 2012067354 A2 WO2012067354 A2 WO 2012067354A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
condenser
temperature
adiabatic space
refrigerant
cooling fan
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2011/007940
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2012067354A3 (en
Inventor
Gyuwon Shin
Bongjun Choi
Original Assignee
Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lg Electronics Inc. filed Critical Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority to US13/885,885 priority Critical patent/US9140472B2/en
Publication of WO2012067354A2 publication Critical patent/WO2012067354A2/en
Publication of WO2012067354A3 publication Critical patent/WO2012067354A3/en

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25D29/005—Mounting of control devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B29/00—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
    • F25B29/003—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously of the compression type system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/003—General constructional features for cooling refrigerating machinery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/04—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means
    • F25B2400/0403—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means for the condenser
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25B2700/17—Speeds
    • F25B2700/172—Speeds of the condenser fan
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B6/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
    • F25B6/04—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits arranged in series
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
    • F25D2323/0023—Control of the air flow cooling refrigerating machinery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/16—Convertible refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/12—Sensors measuring the inside temperature
    • F25D2700/121—Sensors measuring the inside temperature of particular compartments
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/14—Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
    • F25D31/005—Combined cooling and heating devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator having a convertible chamber and an operation method thereof and, more particularly, to a refrigerator having a convertible chamber capable of changing a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber into a space maintained at a pre-set temperature as necessary, and an operation method thereof.
  • General refrigerators include a freezing chamber for maintaining food items at a below zero temperature so as to be kept in a frozen state in storage and a refrigerating chamber keeping food items in unfrozen state in storage.
  • the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are demarcated by an insulating partition to have a determined volume, respectively, and a user cannot change the capacity or volume of the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber discretionally.
  • the refrigerator with a convertible chamber includes an additional space partitioned from the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber and allows for a conversion of the internal temperature of the space as necessary.
  • the convertible chamber can be operated as a freezing chamber or a refrigerating chamber according to a user selection, or may be used as a space maintained to have a different temperature from those of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber.
  • the internal temperature of the convertible chamber is lowered by using cold air generated by an additional evaporator for the convertible chamber or cold air generated by an evaporator for the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber.
  • the user may increase the temperature according to circumstances, such as a case in which the user changes a low temperature environment to a high temperature environment.
  • a heating means is required to increase the internal temperature of the convertible chamber.
  • an electric heater using electrical resistance heat may be used as the heating means.
  • the electric heater has an advantage in that it can easily control the internal temperature of the refrigerator by regulating the amount of applied current, but has a disadvantage that the necessity of additional power degrades energy efficiency.
  • An aspect of the present invention provides a method for easily controlling temperature of a refrigerator in which a convertible chamber is heated by using a refrigerant of high temperature which has passed through a condenser.
  • Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling a temperature of a refrigerator capable of improving energy efficiency in the process of heating a convertible chamber by using a refrigerant, which has passed through a condenser, as a heat source.
  • a method for controlling temperature of a refrigerator including a main body having at least first and second adiabatic spaces; a refrigerant compression cycle device including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expander installed within the main body; and a heating unit transferring heat of a refrigerant discharged from the condenser to air in the second adiabatic space, including: measuring an internal temperature of the second adiabatic space; bypassing the refrigerant discharged from the condenser to the second adiabatic space when the measured internal temperature of the second adiabatic space is lower than a lower limit value of a pre-set temperature range; measuring ambient temperature of the condenser; and controlling an operation of a condenser cooling fan according to the ambient temperature of the condenser to maintain the refrigerant that passes through the interior of the condenser at a certain temperature or higher.
  • the temperature of the second adiabatic space which may be used as a convertible chamber is increased by using the refrigerant of high temperature discharged from the condenser.
  • a pipe through which the refrigerant of high temperature flows is disposed within a wall body of the second adiabatic space, or at least a portion of the pipe is exposed to the interior of the second adiabatic space to allow thermal energy of the refrigerant of high temperature to be transferred to the air within the second adiabatic space.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser may vary according to the surrounding environment in which the condenser is located.
  • cold air is also generated by the evaporator.
  • the other remaining adiabatic space than the second adiabatic space is required to be cooled, such cold air may be provided, but when it is not required to be cooled, it would be better not to provide cold air to the other remaining adiabatic space.
  • the second adiabatic space should be heated as quickly as possible, so the refrigerant is required to be maintained at a certain temperature or higher in the condenser.
  • the ambient temperature of the condenser is measured and driving of the cooling fan for cooling the condenser is controlled according to the measured temperature to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant that passes through the condenser at the certain temperature or higher. Namely, when the ambient temperature is low, the driving of the cooling fan is stopped or the rotation speed of the cooling fan is lowered to reduce the amount of heat transmission from the refrigerant that passes through the condenser to prevent the temperature drop, and when the ambient temperature is high, the cooling fan is driven.
  • an upper limit of the temperature of the refrigerant that passes through the condenser may be arbitrarily set by a skilled person in the art within the range in which the state appropriate for the operation of the refrigerant compression cycle device is maintained.
  • the rotation speed of the cooling fan may vary according to a section to which the ambient temperature of the condenser belongs, and in this case, the rotation speed of the cooling fan in a section in which temperature is high may be higher than a rotation speed in a section in which temperature is low. Besides, the rotation speed of the cooling fan may be controlled to be proportional to the measured ambient temperature.
  • an operation duration of the cooling fan may vary according to a section to which the ambient temperature of the condenser belongs such that an operation duration of the cooling fan in the section in which temperature is high may be greater than that of the cooling fan in the section in which temperature is low.
  • the operation duration of the cooling fan may be controlled to be proportional to the measured ambient temperature.
  • the rotation speed and operation duration of the cooling fan may be controlled together according to the ambient temperature.
  • the refrigerator may further include: a third adiabatic space insulated from the first adiabatic space and keeping ice in storage, and when the temperature of the first adiabatic space satisfies a certain temperature range in the step of bypassing the refrigerant to the second adiabatic space, cold air may be transferred to the third adiabatic space, thus enhancing the utilization of cold air.
  • the third adiabatic space may be a space maintained at a below zero temperature, without a lower limit of the temperature range, e.g., an ice making chamber in which ice is kept in storage.
  • the method may further include: when the operation of the cooling fan is stopped in the process of operating the refrigerant compression cycle device, temporarily reducing the size of a voltage applied to the compressor so as to be smaller than a normal level.
  • the refrigerant of relatively high temperature may be introduced to the compressor to potentially rapidly increase operational noise or vibration of the compressor.
  • the size of the voltage applied to the compressor is temporarily reduced to prevent a rapid increase in noise and vibration.
  • the reducing of the voltage applied to the compressor may include: operating the compressor for a certain period of time at a first voltage level lower than a normal voltage level; and operating the compressor during a certain period of time at a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level.
  • the operating of the compressor at the first voltage level or the second voltage level may be performed once or a plurality of times, and the method may further include: returning the voltage to have the normal voltage level after the lapse of a certain time since the voltage was reduced.
  • a reference temperature TCL at which blowing of cold air to the second adiabatic space is stopped may be set to be higher than a reference temperature TRL at which bypassing of the refrigerant of high temperature to the second adiabatic space is initiated. If the reference temperature TCL is set to be lower than the reference temperature TRL, the internal temperature of the refrigerator would be lowered in the process of cooling the second adiabatic space by blowing cold air thereto, making the refrigerant of high temperature introduced to re-heat the second adiabatic space. In order to avoid this problem, the reference temperature TCL is set to be higher than the reference temperature TRL, to thus increase energy efficiency.
  • a reference temperature TRH at which bypassing of the refrigerant of high temperature to the second adiabatic space is stopped may be set to be lower than a reference temperature TCH at which blowing of cold air to the second adiabatic space is initiated.
  • a refrigerator including: a main body having at least first and second adiabatic spaces; a refrigerant compression cycle device including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expander installed within the main body; a heating unit transferring heat of a refrigerant discharged from the condenser to air in the second adiabatic space; a condenser cooling fan installed at the condenser to cool the condenser; first and second dampers controlling the amount of cold air introduced to the first and second adiabatic spaces after being generated by the evaporator, respectively; and a controller controlling the operation of the compressor, the heating unit, and the condenser cooling fan, wherein when the second adiabatic space is heated by means of the heating unit, the controller controls the operation of the condenser cooling fan according to ambient temperature of the condenser to maintain the refrigerant that passes through the condenser at a certain temperature level or higher.
  • the heating unit may include: a bypass line having one end connected to a lower stream of the condenser and the other end connected to an upper stream of the expander, and transferring heat to the interior of the second adiabatic space; and a 3-way valve installed at a diverged point of the lower stream of the condenser.
  • the main body may further include: a third adiabatic space insulated from the first adiabatic space and keeping ice in storage, wherein the controller may provide control to transfer cold air to the third adiabatic space when the temperature of the first adiabatic space satisfies a certain temperature range in the process of bypassing the refrigerant to the second adiabatic space.
  • a check valve may be installed at the bypass line.
  • a refrigerator including: a main body including a freezing chamber, a convertible chamber, and a refrigerating chamber; first to third cold air adjusting units controlling the amount of cold air supplied to the freezing chamber, the convertible chamber, and the refrigerating chamber; a refrigerant compression cycle device installed within the main body and including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expander; a bypass line bypassing a refrigerant discharged from the condenser; and a control unit controlling a refrigerant flow path to the bypass line, wherein the convertible chamber is cooled by the cold air and controlled to be heated by the bypass line so as to be maintained within a pre-set temperature range, and a condenser cooling fan cooling the condenser is controlled according to ambient temperature of the condenser in the process of heating the convertible chamber to maintain the refrigerant that passes through the condenser at a certain temperature level or higher.
  • the temperature of the second adiabatic space corresponding to a convertible chamber can be maintained within an appropriate temperature range without having to supply power thereto, and thus, energy consumption in the process of maintaining the temperature of the second adiabatic space can be minimized.
  • FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing an internal structure of a refrigerator having a convertible chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerant compression cycle device illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control system in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the process of increasing the temperature of the convertible chamber in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in voltage applied to a compressor in the process of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the process of lowering the temperature of the convertible chamber in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing a reference temperature for controlling the operation of a 3-way valve and a reference temperature for controlling supplying of cold air in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a refrigerator having a convertible chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.
  • FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing an internal structure of a refrigerator having a convertible chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 100 including a refrigerating chamber 110, a convertible chamber 120, and a freezing chamber 130 formed up and down.
  • a mechanic chamber 140 is provided at one side of a lower portion of the main body 100.
  • a compressor 142 and a condenser 144 constituting part of a refrigerant compression cycle device are disposed.
  • a condenser cooling fan 146 is provided at the condenser 144 in order to accelerate heat dissipation of a refrigerant that passes through the condenser 144.
  • An evaporator 148 and an expander 149 are provided at a rear side of the main body 100 of the refrigerator.
  • cold air is supplied to the refrigerating chamber 110, the convertible chamber 120, and the freezing chamber 130 by using the single evaporator, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and two evaporators may be provided for the freezing chamber 130 and the refrigerating chamber 110, respectively.
  • cold air discharge holes 112, 122, and 132 are formed to allow cold air to be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 110, the convertible chamber 120, and the freezing chamber 130, and dampers 114, 124, and 134 for controlling supplying of cold air to the interior of the respective chambers are provided at the cold air discharge holes 112, 122, and 132.
  • blow fans 116 126 and 136 are installed to be adjacent to the dampers 114, 124, and 134, respectively.
  • the disposition and shape of the duct 150 through which cold air is supplied are merely illustrative, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Namely, the duct 150 may be disposed to have any other shape.
  • the positions and presences of the dampers 114, 124, and 134, and the blow fans 116, 126, and 136 may be determined by a skilled person in the art.
  • an ice making chamber 160 is separately provided to be insulated from the internal space of the refrigerating chamber 110 within the refrigerating chamber 110.
  • An ice maker 164 for making ice and an ice container 166 for keeping ice in storage are installed within the ice making chamber 160.
  • a cold air duct 168 for ice making chamber is formed within a side wall of the main body in order to supply cold air generated by the evaporator 148 to maintain the interior of the ice making chamber 160 at a temperature at which ice is not melt.
  • a blow fan (not shown) for ice making chamber for controlling supplying of cold air to the cold air duct 168 for ice making chamber is disposed within the duct.
  • the blow fan for the ice making chamber may not be necessarily installed within the duct; it may be installed to be adjacent to the duct such that it can blow cold air into the duct.
  • the convertible chamber 120 may be used as the refrigerating chamber 110 or the freezing chamber 130 according to a user selection, or may be used as a space maintained at a different temperature range from those of the refrigerating chamber 110 and the freezing chamber 130.
  • cold air may be supplied to cool the interior of the convertible chamber 120
  • the temperature of the interior of the convertible chamber 120 may be increased by using a heating unit. This may happen when the convertible chamber 120 is changed to have a high temperature range.
  • a bypass line is installed on a rear surface of the convertible chamber 120 to allow the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 144 to go therethrough.
  • the bypass line may not necessarily be installed on the rear surface of the convertible chamber 120; it may be installed on a lower surface or an upper surface of the convertible chamber 120, or as illustrated, the bypass line may be exposed to the interior of the convertible chamber 120, or may be buried in the wall surface of the of the convertible chamber 120.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerant compression cycle device illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • cold air is generated as a refrigerant sequentially flows through the compressor 142, the condenser 144, the expander 149, and the evaporator 148, and here, a bypass line 170 is installed between an outflow side of the condenser 144 and an inflow side of the expander 149.
  • a 3-way valve 172 for controlling the direction of a flow of the refrigerant is installed at a diverge point of the bypass line 170.
  • a check valve 176 is provided at a portion immediately before a converge point at which the bypass line 170 is converged to the expander 149.
  • the check valve 176 serves to prevent the refrigerant of high temperature introduced to the expander 149 from flowing backward to the bypass line 170 to affect the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a controller for controlling the operation of the refrigerant compression cycle device.
  • a controller 200 is electrically connected with the compressor 142 to control the operation of the compressor 142, and also configured to control the operations of the blow fan and the damper. Also, the controller controls the operation of the 3-way valve 172 and the condenser cooling fan 146, and here, the operation of the condenser cooling fan 146 is controlled according to ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor 174 installed in the vicinity of the condenser 144.
  • the controller 200 When there is a user manipulation or when the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120 is detected to be lower than a target temperature range, the controller 200 operates the refrigerant compression cycle device by applying a voltage to the compressor 142. At the same time, the controller 200 controls the 3-way valve 172 to allow a refrigerant discharged from the condenser 144 to be introduced to the bypass line 170. The refrigerant that has passed through the bypass line 170 has a high temperature, so it is heat-exchanged with air within the convertible chamber 120 to increase the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120.
  • This state is maintained while the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120 is within an appropriate temperature range, but when the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120 is not within the appropriate temperature range even after heating is performed by more than 8 hours, the controller 200 determines that a corresponding system has an error and stops the operation of the refrigerant compression cycle device.
  • the condenser cooling fan 146 when an ambient temperature of the condenser 144 detected by the temperature sensor is 27°C or higher, the condenser cooling fan 146, maintaining a normal speed, is continuously actuated while the compressor 142 is operated.
  • the condenser cooling fan 146 When the detected ambient temperature ranges from 22°C to 27°C, the condenser cooling fan 146 is operated at a speed corresponding to 75% of the normal speed only in a partial duration of the period of time during which the compressor 142 is actuated.
  • the refrigerant compression cycle device is actuated for 50 minutes in order to protect the corresponding system, stops from operation during a certain period of time, and then actuated for 50 minutes again.
  • the condenser cooling fan 146 is controlled such that it is not operated for 15 minutes immediately after the compressor 142 starts to be actuated, and operates only for 35 minutes that follows.
  • the condense cooling fan 146 is controlled such that it is not operated for initial 35 minutes and then operated only for 15 thereafter at a speed corresponding to 75% of the normal speed. Finally, when the ambient temperature is lower than 18°C, the condenser cooling fan 146 is not operated.
  • the reason for controlling the operation of the condenser cooling fan 146 according to the ambient temperature is to maintain the refrigerant that passes through the bypass line 170 at a temperature level higher than a certain level. Namely, when the ambient temperature is low, the amount of heat transmission of the refrigerant that passes through the condenser 144 is increased, increasing the temperature of the refrigerant, and when the ambient temperature is high, the amount of heat transmission of the refrigerant is reduced, decreasing the temperature of the refrigerant. Accordingly, when the ambient temperature is low, the operation speed and operation time of the condenser cooling fan 146 are reduced to reduce the amount of heat transmission of the refrigerant, thereby controlling the refrigerant to have a temperature higher than a certain level.
  • heating of the convertible chamber 120 and generation of cold air concurrently occur For example, when the internal temperature of the freezing chamber 130 or the refrigerating chamber 110 is higher than an appropriate temperature range, the cold air generated in the course of heating the convertible chamber 120 may be supplied to the freezing chamber 130 or the refrigerating chamber 110, but when the freezing chamber 130 or the refrigerating chamber 110 has an appropriate temperature level, cold air cannot be supplied, so it would be desirous to actuate the refrigerant compression cycle device for a short time as possible. To this end, the temperature of the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 144 is prevented from being excessively lowered, to force the temperature of the convertible chamber 120 to be increased quickly, thus minimizing the operation time of the refrigerant compression cycle device.
  • cold air generated in the process of heating the convertible chamber 120 is controlled to be supplied to the ice making chamber 160.
  • the temperature thereof is maintained at a lower level than the appropriate temperature range, it does not affect ice kept in storage therein, so cold air may be supplied to the ice making chamber.
  • the temperature of the evaporator can be prevented from being excessively lowered to affect the operation of the compressor 142.
  • a process of lowering the temperature of the convertible chamber 120 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.
  • the compressor 142 is actuated and the 3-way valve 172 is controlled to allow a refrigerant discharged from the condenser 144 to be introduced to the expander 149 without going through the bypass line 170.
  • the refrigerant generated by the evaporator 148 is introduced into the convertible chamber 120, lowering the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120.
  • This state is maintained while the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120 is within an appropriate temperature range, and if the internal temperature of the convertible chamber 120 does not reach the appropriate temperature range although cooling is performed for 8 hours or more, the controller determines that the corresponding system has an error and stops the operation of the refrigerant compression cycle device.
  • TMIN refers to the lowest optimum temperature within the convertible chamber 120
  • TMAS refers to the highest optimum temperature within the convertible chamber 120.
  • THH is set to be lower than TMAX to prevent unnecessary cooling after the termination of the heating process.
  • THH is set to be lower than TCH, a temperature at which cooling is initiated, the same effect can be obtained, but in order to maintain an appropriate temperature, it is set such that THH ⁇ TMAX ⁇ TCH.
  • THL a temperature at which heating is initiated
PCT/KR2011/007940 2010-11-17 2011-10-24 Refrigerator with convertible chamber and operation method thereof WO2012067354A2 (en)

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KR10-2010-0114662 2010-11-17
KR1020100114662A KR101788600B1 (ko) 2010-11-17 2010-11-17 절환실을 갖는 냉장고 및 그 운전방법

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Also Published As

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US9140472B2 (en) 2015-09-22
KR20120053409A (ko) 2012-05-25
KR101788600B1 (ko) 2017-10-20
WO2012067354A3 (en) 2012-09-07
US20130219930A1 (en) 2013-08-29

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